Consider Costs Before You Bring Home a Pet
“One of the questions first-time pet owners need to be able to answer is how much will this cost. They might not even consider it. How much upfront will it cost to take in an abandoned kitten that will be kept inside?”
We received this very pertinent question from one of our readers. He is correct. Most people underestimate or don’t consider the cost of taking care of a new pet before bringing one home.
Did you find a stray? Have you had a friend or co-worker offer you the “pick of the litter”? Remember, there is no such thing as a “free” pet.
It’s tempting to add a pet to your household, and we encourage you to do so. We want you to be aware of the expense. A pet costs more to take care of than just the price of food. Medical care for a new puppy or kitten can easily exceed hundreds of dollars in the first six months. We cannot provide exact costs because they vary based on the pet, its health, and each veterinarian’s pricing schedule.
What healthcare costs can you anticipate, though? Initially, puppies and kittens need several rounds of vaccinations-generally through their first four months of age and then again a year later. Pets over six months of age will need one or two rounds of vaccinations the first year you bring them home. Boosters are required throughout the animal’s life to prevent infectious diseases.
If your new pet hasn’t been spayed or neutered, you will also need to account for this cost. It’s more expensive to “fix” a female than a male. Please schedule this vital surgery to keep your pet healthy and prevent an unwanted litter.
If you’ve followed our previous columns, you know how important it is to give your dogs and cats heartworm preventive, even if they live indoors and don’t have much contact with mosquitoes that can transmit heartworms. You’ll have to factor in the cost of heartworm testing and year-round heartworm, flea, and tick preventive into your budget. The price of preventive varies with the weight of your dog or cat.
Plan to pay for fecal tests to make certain your new pet doesn’t have intestinal parasites. Your new pet should be checked a minimum of two times its first year and then at least once a year after that.
Fortunately, most animals people bring home are healthy…but not always. It’s essential to budget for unanticipated costs for visits to the veterinarian if your pet gets sick. These expenses can add up. Pet insurance, which reimburses you for a portion of the cost of your veterinary bills, is available for additional monthly fees. Insurance can be a real-life saver for people on a fixed income.
In addition to medical expenses, the cost of food, treats, toys, dog training, daycare and boarding, bedding, kennels, litter boxes, and grooming are all things you need to consider. And in the case of our chihuahua Mango, the occasional carpet cleaning.
Would you like to know our best suggestion for obtaining a dog or a cat? Adopt one from your local animal shelter. This summer, we adopted our handsome adult Labrador Retriever, James, from the Oktibbeha County Humane Society (www.ochsms.org, 662-338-9093). His meager adoption fee included his neuter surgery, vaccinations and rabies tag, intestinal parasite screen, deworming, heartworm test, and microchip. James also offered to enroll him in Pet Insurance to help cover the cost of unanticipated medical expenses. We can’t think of a better place to go to find a new pet—and save a life. The Oktibbeha County Humane Society also offers programs to help reduce the cost of vaccinating, microchipping, and spaying and neutering your dogs and cats.
Pets are an expense, but they provide us with such joy and companionship. These four-legged friends help us live longer and happier lives. We hope you will consider inviting a dog or a cat to become a new member of your family. Please adopt from your local shelter!
This publication is intended to provide general information regarding the subject matter covered. We encourage you to contact your regular veterinarian should you have specific questions about your pet’s medical care. We hope to hear from you soon. Hail State!